=32.= _Jonathan David’s uncle_] The name Jonathan is common in Hebrew, but no uncle of David is elsewhere mentioned. A “Jonathan, son of Shimea,” David’s brother, is referred to in xx. 7 (= 2 Samuel xxi. 21), and many scholars in consequence prefer to follow the margin and render =Jonathan, David’s brother’s son=. Curtis renders =David’s lover=, taking the reference to be to Jonathan, Saul’s son, who as the friend of David’s youth might be spoken of as his first “counsellor.” This view seems improbable but is not impossible, despite the phrase “_and a scribe_” which could not possibly be said of Saul’s warrior son. There is some evidence that those words are a gloss, and it is true that the list is not one of living men only (compare Ahithophel), whilst finally the Chronicler might well be tempted to drag in an allusion to a relationship so well-known and so creditable to David. _a scribe_] Not the chief scribe; compare xviii. 16, note. _with the king’s sons_] As tutor; compare 2 Kings x. 6. ³³and Ahithophel was the king’s counsellor: and Hushai the Archite was the king’s friend: =33.= _Ahithophel_] See 2 Samuel xv. 31; xvi. 20‒xvii. 23. _Hushai_] See 2 Samuel xv. 32‒37, xvi. 16‒19, xvii. 5‒16. _Archite_] The “border of the Archites” was near Bethel (Joshua xvi. 2). The word has no connection with the “Arkite” of i. 15. _king’s friend_] compare 2 Samuel xvi. 16. “Special titles served to signify the degree of rank the great men held with respect to the king [of Egypt]. In old times the most important were _the friend_ and _the well-beloved friend_ of the king” (Erman, _Ancient Egypt_, English translation p. 72). The Greek kings of Syria granted similar titles to their chief dependents; compare 1 Maccabees ii. 18 (Revised Version with margin), “thou and thy house shall be in the number of the king’s Friends.” ³⁴and after Ahithophel was Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar: and the captain of the king’s host was Joab. =34.= _after Ahithophel_] Compare verse 33. _Jehoiada the son of Benaiah_] Either we must read, “Benaiah the son of Jehoiada” (compare xviii. 17), or we must assume that a person known only from this passage is meant. _and Abiathar_] Possibly such a phrase as “And Zadok and Abiathar were priests” (compare 2 Samuel xx. 25) originally stood here. CHAPTERS XXVIII, XXIX. DAVID’S FAREWELL SPEECH. CHAPTER XXVIII. =1‒8= (compare xxii. 17‒19). HIS CHARGE TO THE CHIEF MEN OF ISRAEL CONCERNING THE BUILDING OF THE TEMPLE.